December 21, 2015
Revelers raise their hands for health care at the Mistletoe Magic father/daughter dinner and dance, en route to raising more than $1 million for the 22nd annual Festival of Trees in Red Deer.
Story by Kerri Robins; Photo courtesy of Red Deer Regional Health Foundation
Red Deer and Central Alberta residents must surely feel like the million dollars they raised after they kicked off the holiday fund-raising season in style this year.
More than 2,600 volunteers, 1,500 volunteer entertainers and 500 donors, raised more than $1.06 million on behalf of the 22nd annual Festival of Trees hosted by the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation.
Over the week-long event, 23,000 guests were entertained as they raised money to improve equipment and services for medical specialty clinics at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
With more than $12.8 million raised over the years, the festival boasts nine special events, decorated Christmas trees on display for auction, raffle alley, silent auction items, gift shop, sweet shop and, of course, Candy Cane Lane and Santa’s Secret Shoppe for the children.
Proceeds of this year’s festival, which was held the last week of November at the Stockmen's Pavilion and Prairie Pavilion at Westerner Park, will go to help Central Albertans living with multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, heart failure, anticoagulation therapies, specialized geriatric services, stroke prevention and complex medical conditions.
For more information, visit the festival of trees website.
